GALVESTON — The Galveston Beach Patrol reported 14 stingray injuries over the weekend, the largest number of painful wounds reported this summer.

The Beach Patrol reported 10 injuries Sunday and four injuries Saturday, caused by bathers stepping on stingrays and causing them to lash out defensively with their toxic-tipped spiny tails, Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis said Monday.

Davis said beachgoers can easily avoid a painful sting by shuffling through the water when they see blue flags on the beach warning of dangerous marine life.

"If you let them know you're there, they will get away from you," Davis said.

Michelle Shave, 20, of Galveston was swimming with her dog Sunday when she was struck in the leg by a stingray. "I was waist deep and I felt this stinging," Shave said. "It was probably the worst pain since my wisdom teeth were pulled."

Davis and Landry said a stingray wound should be immediately plunged into hot water.

Lifeguards apply a hot pack to the wounds and then send victims to a clinic for more thorough treatment, including a hot-water soak and measures to prevent infection, Davis said.

Landry said repeated soaking in hot water breaks down the protein in the toxin. Shave said the hot water immediately eased her pain, which persisted Monday.

The pain is caused by venom contained in a thin sheath of tissue that covers the spines on the tail, Landry said. The tail is hollow and connected to a venom gland. The venom enters the wound from the toxic sheath, and additional toxin enters the wound from the venom gland if the spine is broken.